Ray Dacolias

"Janitor" is a story about a man whose skin pigments happen to be predominantly black, who exists in Southern society before the advent of a kinder and gentler America. Although he is not treated with respect at his custodial job or in town, he is the embodiment of affability and graciousness. One day, something dramatic happens to alter the shameful attitude of his fellow citizens toward him. "Love" is about the inviolate affection between a father and his daughter. As she lies dying on a hospital bed, he faithfully attends to her every need; it is here that we see their special bond, and the deep sorrow that compels him to desperate measures. "The Whispering Bells" is a tale about tiny creatures that seek adventure and excitement as they soar throughout the galaxies. Sometimes, they form long lines and watch young Bells catch meteoroids and perform entertaining routines on them. One of these Bells is not so cautious and he lands on a planet where he cannot fly, and this is where his real journey begins. "Crashing Into You" examines the life of a beautiful young woman and the consequences of her irresponsible actions. She speeds everywhere she goes, never thinking that her reckless driving might hurt someone; but one day she does hurt someone and goes to jail, and when she comes out, she is forced to examine her past life and the people she affected. "March of Life" takes place during World War II. American and Filipino soldiers are on a forced march by Japanese captors who mistreat and often murder those prisoners who displease them or who are unable to physically make the trek. One of the Japanese soldiers does not agree with this inhumane treatment. He finds a way to leave the island, but unfortunately lands on the Chinese coastline, and must somehow survive the very people his country is seeking to commit genocide against. "Autograph" profiles an old man who has had decades of nightmares about his role in the horrific bombing of another nation. He eventually realizes that he must go to this country and make amends with the people, but once there, he finds it is not an easy task. "Of Greater Significance than Mammon" begins with a dying man struggling to move along a snow-covered road. He is trying to get to the house where his wife and precious daughter live, but he soon collapses. A Good Samaritan comes along and learns from this man that there are assassins coming to kill the man's family. The youth now must make a decision to run, merely help, or take action. "100" depicts the struggles of one hundred men in a bleak desert. They are cogitating on the methods to prevent a fast-moving truck with a deadly cargo from reaching a nearby city. These bald-headed men, dressed in beige clothes, have no weapons and very little time to resolve this dilemma. "Soul Love" begins with a man holding onto the railing of a boat, his other hand grasping his wife's as she dangles above a tempestuous sea. Soon his grasp will weaken and she will fall into the boiling cauldron-but when his hold on her is gone, something miraculous happens. "A Purpose Given" profiles a wandering man who appears to be just like every bum or hobo who inhabits the landscape, but his past life was exemplary, and due to tragic circumstances, he has voluntarily left home and hearth to look for a greater purpose beyond his own life, and finds it.

Teller of Tales

The Lauren Tree is about a man who uses sophisticated lies to gain what he wants in life. But one day, the tangled web he weaves transports him to a world where lying is not permissible, and the consequences of doing so are grave. Animal Stories consists of three tales that center on the way our modern society treats animals, and the consequences of that behavior. The first story is about a family who is driving to Yosemite Park and how the attitude of the mother and father toward wildlife alters their trip; the second story is about the relationship between those who have, and those who have not; and the third story is about an animal rights organization and how its passionate philosophy toward all creatures great and small, but not human, affects its surroundings. Fat City deals with the current phenomenon of how people live their lives with regard to diet and exercise, and the consequences of not living as our ancestors once did-laboring hard and earning their daily food. Steel Maiden is the tale of a college youth who befriends a retired Navy frogman. One day, the old man relates an incredible story to the youth about one of the most famous disasters in maritime history, and the astonishing discovery he made about it, which was covered up for decades. The Epiphany of Pain centers on a man who seemingly has it all-comely looks, great health, a wonderful family, and a secure job; however, he is still not satisfied with all that he has, and as he grows restless in search of more pleasures, he experiences a physical pain that soon compels him to hunt for greater Truths. The Vanishing Point concerns a man who is a famous painter, and his wife, who is merely his subordinate-helper; he mistreats her and does not appreciate anything she does for him, yet she stays with him. Then, one day, a terrible malady happens to the man, and he must change his ways to keep his wife and his craft, or lose everything. Ten Chances is the profile of a youth who is emotionally disturbed from birth; he is violent and defiant, and nearly everyone is afraid of him, and when others wish to help him, his parents will not allow it. When the youth becomes a man, he indulges in a crime spree, and still, he is not properly punished. Then, one day, he plans an unthinkable crime-but who will stop him now?

Spinner of Yarns

Oscine is born with a hereditary illness that compels her parents to ignore and despise her; consequently, she grows up waiting for that one special person who will rescue her from loneliness and allow her to truly experience the world. She communes with Nature in ways that mystify those around her and is revered in her neighborhood and at school for her good deeds. Oscine eventually leaves home, becomes a nurse, marries, and has three children; yet it is a marriage without love, and her husband treats her as if she is a bondservant. And then she meets Abraham, a kind, caring doctor, and the two fall in love, but she vows never to leave her husband because she believes in the sanctity of marriage. Abraham consults with Eli, his best friend, a rich, handsome and charming rogue with the ladies, who tells him how to win over Oscine. But Abraham is unable to follow this advice. Meanwhile, the marriage between Heath and Oscine continues to disintegrate, and he begins to treat her worse than ever. Oscine still loves Abraham but now wants to stay in the marriage only for her children. Will Oscine leave a man who cares more for his precious cars than his own wife? Will Abraham take charge and rescue Oscine from a man who does not care about her physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual well-being the way he does? And what will happen to Eli as he observes this great love between Abraham and Oscine? Will he change his attitude that women are merely conquests, to be cast off once they are conquered, and give them the honor and respect they are due? This story is a tragedy, for anytime a man loves a woman who is not his own, there will be blood.

The Tragedy of Woman

Margaret C. Carbuncle is the principal at Amethyst Elementary. She has an insatiable appetite for power and soon becomes a tyrant; she also develops a desire for prestige and glory, and she knows the only way to attain this is through high test scores for her elementary school. Therefore, she drives her Teachers into a frenzy as she demands that they instruct only those subjects that will be included on the all-important, all-consuming state examination. She is ruthless in her desire to achieve her lofty goals. She happily destroys the lives of anyone who gets in her way. Some of the Teachers fight back, and some of them are destroyed by her; still, she cannot be everywhere at every moment, but when cameras are put into the classrooms, the Teachers are nearly under her complete control. But then the Secret comes, and with it, the Teachers are able to carry on, and wait for the day they will be liberated and can educate as they know best; yes, they survive, but the school slowly dies, for no true learning occurs, only monotonous, repetitive lessons that inoculate the students with certain test-ready knowledge. And then one day, two small visitors come for Carbuncle and attempt to teach her a real lesson in civility and charity and give her a chance to repent for all she has done to the inhabitants of the school. Will Carbuncle reform? If she reforms, will she fight for the Teachers? If she refuses, what will be the consequences? And what is the Secret? Public schools are an easy target for anyone who has a yellow pen or a high position in society or politics and who decries the state of education in America, thereby crucifying every Teacher in every school and empowering principals like Carbuncle everywhere; yet, these people form their opinions about American schools from flawed childhood memories, unreliable anecdotes, and distortions of the truth. Read every word between the covers of this book and you will soon know what is really going on in the secret world of public schools, for the author of this tale is a former educator, and reveals the unabashed, sordid truth, albeit in novel form, about America's crumbling educational system.

Guardians at the Gate

Joaquin Bridger is a former soldier who settles in the town of Redwood, becomes a police officer, marries, and has a daughter. He and his family live there peacefully for ten years, and then tragedy strikes. His wife and daughter are killed in a confrontation with bank robbers, and he blames himself. He quits the police force and begins a wandering, aimless life around town, walking wherever he goes—silent, brooding, filthy. He exists like this for five years. The majority of people in town see him as a man who is mentally disabled. Few people dare bother him. Then one day, John Slaughter, the man who was responsible for the death of Joaquin's family, comes back to this town. After robbing the bank with his fellow criminals, he kidnaps a young girl as he gets away. Joaquin recognizes the man, and gives chase. Thus, the tale begins. Slaughter is no ordinary criminal. He has bases of operation across the country, and he is involved in nefarious activities with foreign and domestic criminals. He never stays too long in one spot, making it extremely difficult for Joaquin to track him across the vast wilderness. Sylvia, the girl Slaughter kidnapped, is nearly nine years old when the story begins, and as she meets other girls who were also taken by Slaughter, she learns how to survive as she awaits rescue. Back in the town of Redwood, Sylvia's mother, Juanita, does whatever she can to search for her daughter. She also knows that Joaquin is searching for Sylvia, and this brings her some comfort.Joaquin has been helped, from the beginning of the search, by two men who believe in him—a U.S. Marshal, and a police officer from Redwood. Joaquin searches for the child across several Western states. As he tracks Slaughter, he also deals with the loss of his wife and daughter, and his failed life the last five years. Along the way, as he regains the rich frontier heritage of his forefathers by learning to co-exist peacefully with Nature, he meets a big man called the Giant. It is the Giant who teaches Joaquin how to live in peace and harmony with oneself; it is the Giant who teaches Joaquin simply how to live.

The Searcher

Joaquin Bridger is a former soldier who settles in the town of Redwood, becomes a police officer, marries, and has a daughter. He and his family live there peacefully for ten years, and then tragedy strikes. His wife and daughter are killed in a confrontation with bank robbers, and he blames himself. He quits the police force and begins a wandering, aimless life around town, walking wherever he goes-silent, brooding, filthy. He exists like this for five years. The majority of people in town see him as a man who is mentally disabled. Few people dare bother him. Then one day, John Slaughter, the man who was responsible for the death of Joaquin's family, comes back to this town. After robbing the bank with his fellow criminals, he kidnaps a young girl as he gets away. Joaquin recognizes the man, and gives chase. Thus, the tale begins. Slaughter is no ordinary criminal. He has bases of operation across the country, and he is involved in nefarious activities with foreign and domestic criminals. He never stays too long in one spot, making it extremely difficult for Joaquin to track him across the vast wilderness. Sylvia, the girl Slaughter kidnapped, is nearly nine years old when the story begins, and as she meets other girls who were also taken by Slaughter, she learns how to survive as she awaits rescue. Back in the town of Redwood, Sylvia's mother, Juanita, does whatever she can to search for her daughter. She also knows that Joaquin is searching for Sylvia, and this brings her some comfort. Joaquin has been helped, from the beginning of the search, by two men who believe in him-a U.S. Marshal, and a police officer from Redwood. Joaquin searches for the child across several Western states. As he tracks Slaughter, he also deals with the loss of his wife and daughter, and his failed life the last five years. Along the way, as he regains the rich frontier heritage of his forefathers by learning to co-exist peacefully with Nature, he meets a big man called the Giant. It is the Giant who teaches Joaquin how to live in peace and harmony with oneself; it is the Giant who teaches Joaquin simply how to live.

Ray Dacolias

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